When I was active duty I was stationed in the Philipines when a volcano erupted and we were without water or power for 2 weeks. I used a 5 gallon bucket, a plunger and a mop wringer with very good results. It is cheap and easy. I have this setup in the garage for when i need it.

I use it all the time on running shoes, web gear, new blue jeans, dog-crap covered car mats, you name it -- anything that's awkward or too nasty for the regular washing machine. Works like a charm on those, and no doubt it'll work equally well on regular clothes if & when the SHTF.

An energy plan should be a part of prepping in my opinion, and would help in the clothes washing area. Jack had a pretty cool show last week on solar backups and a washer could fit into the systems they were discussing. Most washers are 110V and could run off a generator or, better, a battery back up system tied to both solar panels and the grid. The new models won't kill you on watts either. Assuming a well system in your energy plan and a septic system (this wouldn't work in the city or suburbs) you could make the washing machine work. If you were using solar you would want to do it on sunny days when the batteries are fully charged so you don't run an energy deficit there.

This won't work for electric dryers that are normally 220V and less likely to work on a backup system unless you set some double pull breakers in the subpanel and have a transformer that can do both 110V and 220V (I'm sure they are available, I'm just not familiar with them), plus the electric dryers probably use a ton of watts to dry clothes. Fortunately, clothelines work just fine!

Charles

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Remember when you leave this earth, you take nothing that you have received – only what you have given: a heart enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice, and courage. - St. Francis of Assisi

I have a project sitting in my garage that I've worked on off and on for a few years. I'm converting an old wringer washer to pedal power. It's been a side project that has been collecting dust for a year or more. Suppose I should get out there and finish it.

Beyond my idea, a simple washtub and plunger/agitator along side a hand cranked wringer would work great. Lehmans carries both.

Civilization is the limitless multiplication of unnecessary necessaries-Mark Twain

My life has a sound track, and it goes to 11.

Married White Male -looking for wild healthy mature Catfish. No smaller than 15 pounds but the bigger the better. Does not need to cook or clean, just needs enjoy munching on chicken livers and long fights on the beach. Please meet me tonight at Walborn Reservoir. Ill be waiting.

"One of these centuries, the brutes, private or public, who believe that they can rule their betters by force, will learn the lesson of what happens when brute force encounters mind and force."— Ragnar Danneskjöld, from Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand)